Chemicals. If you shudder at the mere mention of the word, you really shouldn’t. Every single thing on earth is made up of a chemical formula, so this isn’t the best indication of whether a personal care product is safe to use.

Ingredients you should be more cautious about when looking at skincare? Sulphates. Parabens. Those are the real nasties you should be steering clear of. Sulphates such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are responsible for the foaming action that happens with cleansers and soaps when in contact with water. While you may feel cleaner when washing with products containing these ingredients, they are potential irritants and can cause dryness, itching and inflammation in the long run.

Parabens, on the other hand, are present in many personal care products but have been found in malignant breast tumors, giving reason to believe that they could be harmful long-term as they can be stored in the body and accumulate.

So what’s a mama to do? Luckily, sulphate-free and paraben-free skincare is becoming more and more commonplace now, and we’re even prouder to share that many of these brands are homegrown!

Click through to check out our top picks of natural skincare brands to try now!

Sven's Island

This new 100% natural skincare brand from New Zealand uses only unique plant-derived ingredients harvested on one of the most pollutant-free spots on the planet. The star ingredient in every Sven’s Island product is Kanuka honey (not a typo!), which is proven to be 33 times stronger than tea tree and 100 times stronger than manuka honey in anti-inflammatory and anti bacterial properties!

Products to try: Check out Miracle Manuka, nicknamed “medicine cabinet in a tin” for its ability to be used for any kind of skin problem. It acts as an antiseptic, being anti-inflammatory and soothing to irritated and inflamed skin for babies with nappy rash or eczema, to kids with cuts, burns, insect bites. You’ll also feel the Kanuka power in other great products like the Spot LessFace Cleanser for a fresh and moisturising cleanse, and the award-winning Fresh Face Anti-Ageing Face Cream that leaves zero greasiness while boosting hydration.

Is your sunscreen coral reef-friendly? Sun protection products are notorious for contributing to the pollution of our oceans, so knowing that All Good sunscreens are safe and environmentally-friendly gives us peace of mind! Their sunscreen sticks and sunscreen butter are smooth and creamy organic coconut oil-based, which helps to moisturise the skin while still providing broad spectrum UVA / UVB protection and shield from harsh winds. They’re also free from oxybenzone and gluten, and are water resistant for up to 80 minutes!

Established in 2011, Charis Naturals is now one of the go-to sites for natural and organic beauty finds. Not only are the brands they carry all natural, they also proudly support women-led enterprises which strive for environmentally and socially conscious beauty.

Brands to try:

Urtekram AG – hailing from Denmark with a 50-year history, Urtekram is Scandinavia’s largest natural and organic personal care brand. Plus point: many of Urtekram products are vegan! Check out their range of natural shampoos and conditioners for all hair types (including scentless products for babies and children), moisturising hand creams, lip balms (designed for Scandinavia’s cold winters with moisturising and softening qualities with Shea Butter and Aloe Vera!), body care and natural deodorants.

Sappho New Paradigm – made in Canada, and certified vegan- and cruelty-free by PETA. This cult-favourite makeup brand is known for its broad range of colours and the use of skin-enhancing natural ingredients. You’ll find a complete range of tones and colours suitable for all complexions in their product line-up, all created with 65-70+% certified organic ingredients!

Treat yourself to luxurious, 100% natural skincare all the way from British Columbia, Canada! Chorus Supernatural is an award-winning skincare, haircare, body care and children’s products which contains 0% nasties, and is professionally formulated by skin and hair experts with pure botanical extracts and essential oils. They’ve raked up quite the cult following, clinching multiple awards and being endorsed by one of the top anti-ageing specialists, Dr Kimberly Crawford. All their products contain a potent range of active natural ingredients that gives effective results from head to toe. Free of parabens, sulphates, petro-chemicals, artificial colours, artificial fragrances, silicone, mineral oil and propylene glycol, all the products are designed to be suitable for different skin types and ages.

Looking for organic skincare for yourself and your bub mama? Check out Melvory Organic Skincare, found online at JustCats! Hailing from Australia, all Melvory products have been formulated by pharmacists, is fair trade, cruelty-free and 100% Vegetarian.

If you need to soothe dry skin or eczema rashes, try the Lavender Chocolate Whipped Butter, which is suitable for babies and adults. It contains lavender oil to relieve itching and reduce the symptoms of eczema due to its antiseptic and antifungal properties, while cocoa butter offers skin softening benefits and anti-inflammotory effects. Other star products include the Baby Bum Balm for protection in the diaper area (including relief from nappy rash!), Watermelon Belly Oil for mamas to prevent stretch marks, and the Soothing Calendula Baby Milk Bath, a substitute to soap for itchy eczema skin.

Translated as the Malay word for ‘pure’, Tulin is a multi-label online store that carries quality natural and organic Aussie-made skincare, haircare, body care, baby care, home cleaning, essential oils and raw ingredients with prices that won’t break the bank. On top of being made with natural ingredients and free of preservatives, all brands featured are also fair-trade, cruelty-free and environmentally conscious.

Mention ‘Bali’ and we’re conjuring up images of lush waterfalls, mountains and feelings of serenity. Transport yourself to the tropical island with Balinese brand Utama Spice when you use their 100% natural and luscious skin treats, specially designed for tropical living! Sulfate-free, suitable for sensitive skin (even babies!) and multi-functioning, the family-run brand offers products made with pure, natural and safe raw ingredients, inspired by traditional Balinese recipes. All the products come from their factory in Ubud, Bali, made by a team of local women from the surrounding villages.

Products to try: Best-sellers include the agar-based Body Mists (better hydration than alcohol-based mists); Begone Bug insect repellent; Green Leaf Body Scrubs made with guava and jackfruit leaves; Liquid Soaps made with hydrating coconut and castor oil; and one of the signature products, Supa Dupa Yoga Mat Spray, which can also be used as room or linen spray or for freshening up fabrics that may attract bad odours.

Balm Kitchen was started by an eco-conscious mama looking to find an all-natural solution that could solve both her own chapped lips and her little boy’s atopic eczema outbreak. Officially founded in 2014, it’s now a homegrown skincare and body care line that combines gentle yet effective botanical ingredients with cosmetic formulation techniques. From moisturising body balms to deep cleansing facial clay masks and even products that help soothe bub’s diaper rash, they create simple, nourishing skin food for the whole fam!

Product to try: We’re especially intrigued by their new Rose Quartz Gua Sha tools that help to massage the face for lymphatic drainage, smoothing out wrinkles and improving blood circulation.

Product to try:Butt Kickin’ Deep Detoxing Coffee Scrub – this smells like the richest cup of coffee you’ll ever have, and scrubs the skin effectively without being too harsh. It leaves the skin with a layer of moisture after rinsing, without being too greasy! Especially great for keeping ingrown hairs at bay.

This intimate family business managed by New Zealand mama-daughter duo, herbalist Lynn Kirkland and model Sarah Cowan, takes farm goodness straight to your skin. What first began as a quest for a natural remedy to Lynn’s son’s cough and cold has now become New Zealand’s best-kept skincare secret, offering all-natural products to target all skin types.

Products to try: We love the face creams and masks, and can’t wait for them to start offering the rest of the NZ range which includes massage oils and creams for bubbas, and healing creams for breastfeeding mamas!

This homegrown skincare brand taps into the natural goodness of ingredients like kiwi, sugar cane and mandarin acai to create organic, high-performance products that are even used in their organic treatments offered in-store at The Central, Clarke Quay and Everton Park. Pop by to check out the full range of skincare and maybe even try out a quick facial at the Sugar K Organic Peel Bar! We love the Red Carpet Organic Facial – one of the most sought-after non-invasive facials using machines to activate and firm all 57 facial muscles. This treatment delivers the Kew organics water-based moisturising serums right to where they are needed most. The most relaxing ‘facelift’ you’ll ever have!

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